This was the scene across the street from Mamaw's house in the wee hours of Friday morning. A week ago, this building was a Mexican food restaurant, and home to some close friends. Farmdad traded salsa recipes with Rocky, Mamaw and Pam traded entire meals, Jazz provided teenage entertainment for everyone, and everyone traded jokes, stories, and general good times. These people were good friends to many in the community, good people. Rocky and Pam were always willing to help out their neighbors, and they always had a smile for a stranger.
The Volunteer fire departments of five towns and two counties fought for hours, not to save the wooden building, there was no way, but to save the homes around it, including Mamaw's. The local police went door to door waking neighbors and evacuating them, going so far as to move vehicles for them, in conditions that can only be described as hellish.
The fire burned so hot that it broke glass, and melted paint on the fire engines. They say that the fire sucked all the oxygen out of the area to the point that this truck wouldn't start so that they could move it. The firemen had to take a hack saw to the hose to get it off the truck.
People watched this scene Friday night, not knowing if their friends had gotten out. Four people were in the house, one made it out alive. I don't usually ask this kind of stuff, but please, if you pray, say a prayer for the friends and family of Rocky, Pam, and Jazz. And please, say a special prayer for Pam's mother, who survived the fire, but lost her family.
There are few people in this world with the kind of heart and generosity shown by this family, and their deaths mean a true loss to this community.
7 comments:
The commuinty is in my prayers.
They're in my prayers, and so is your family.
I lost everything I owned in a house fire when I was a kid. It's a horrible thing to deal with, even without the loss of life.
Jon
...I have no words.... nothing seems sufficient...
Everyone touched by that fire is in our thoughts and prayers.
Sending plenty of prayers.
Wow. That is so sad. I'm sorry and I'm praying .
oh Dear God.
this is so awful I can't begin to frame it in words.
I am so sorry for you and yours and the family.
I can finally post on this thread, and want to let all that have wished us well over our November that we appreciate it. Rocky , Pam , and Jaz all had bedrooms on what would be considered the 2nd floor ( loft ) and likely just slipped from sleep to the next experence that awaits us all before any fire/heat got to them . The pics on the post were pretty much taken by Mamaw , but i took a few from her cam too . I cannot describe the uncerteny of watching the structure burn ( for realisticly 1 hour and 15 minutes from when i got there to a pile of embers ( when i got there the fd was there and a slight flame out of one do ) , not knowing where Rocky , Pam , Jaz and all were . On the way to Granpas funeral our hopes were pretty much dashed . I have to give KUDOS to our local LE , and the strictly Volenteer fire dept . Having in the past been both LE and a volenteer fireman i do realise just how far beyond expected duty they went . My family is likely never to see another month like this one ( thank the diety of your choice ) but as a family we appreciate your support on our losses .
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